singing

This interview is part of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center’s Oral History Trust. Albert (Bruce) Washington, III grew up in Chatham County with his mother and in Northside with his father and extended family. He was an only child, but grew up in the context of many cousins, aunts, and uncles who cared…

Eugene Farrar: [Singing] “We came this far by faith, lean on the Lord.” My, my, my, that’s a great song. I don’t know all of the words to it, but I love to hear the song being sung because that’s how African Americans come through slavery you know, come this far by faith-leaning on the Lord. Even…

The historically Black neighborhoods of Chapel Hill and Carrboro have a long and storied musical legacy. Music has played a tremendous role in practices of faith in the area going back to the 19th century and before. In a 2007 oral history, Mrs. Brenda Jackson pointed to the historical roots of…

Russell Edwards grew up in Chapel Hill and has watched, as well as experienced, many situations that African-Americans dealt with both before, during, and after the civil rights movement took place. He resides in one of the historic African American communities of Chapel Hill and shares his opinions…